u, r CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT Premier Issue Newport News, Virginia Summerl996 A New Look at ince assuming the Presidency in January, Presi­ for professional seminars. In addition, the college will dent Paul Trible has made students his administra­ renovate four science laboratories on campus and estab­ Stion's number one priority. He states, "We will lish four others at the Applied Research Center in Oyster always put students first! Through the years when students Point. have walked across this campus, they have felt supported, Other plans include high-tech incubator space for new affirmed and encouraged. That is a tradition that we will businesses and two field stations on the eastern and continue and enhance." western shores of the Chesapeake Bay. Webb says four The University has become more responsive to the endowed professorships will be created for applied needs of its students by shifting resources away from ad­ science and two others for entrepreneurship and manage­ ministrators and toward students. "CNU has cut red tape ment of technology. and eliminated lines," said Trible. "We've removed "This new college typifies what is best about CNU," barriers to success and set the bar high for academic said Webb. "Its business wing has just established a state performance. Christopher Newport University is the only of the art curriculum that focuses on the international na­ college or university in Virginia to reduce tuition and fees ture oftoday's business world, on entrepreneurship, and in recent years." on the use of high tech tools for business decision-mak­ In May, the University implemented one of its first ing. Its science addition has the first programs at CNU to restructuring moves when it combined CNU's four colleges have achieved national prominence." into two. The College of Science and Technology was Dr. Powell says the College of Arts and Humanities merged with the College of Business and Economics to has always been heavily involved in education and the teach­ cre,ate the College of Business, Science and Technology ing of writing, critical thinking and speaking- all essential under the direction of Dr. George Webb, former dean of to any liberally educated person. The other college, the College of Science and Technology. In addition, the Social Science and Professional Studies brought together College of Social Science and Professional Studies was a variety of professions. "By combining the colleges, we combined with the College of Arts and Humanities to form will have a bridge between the basic competencies in the the College of Liberal Arts. Dr. Jouett Powell, former two schools. There will be a closer connection Dean of the College of Arts and Humanities, was selected between the departments of English, education, history, as dean of the new college. By consolidating the two col­ etc." leges, Trible says, the University will save over $250,000. The college's goals will be centered around plans for Dr. Webb said the new college will allow students and a performing arts center, says Powell. The arts center faculty to develop and market new products, provide solu­ is to be located on the Ferguson property. Other plans tions for management and technical problems, improve include the development of working arrangements with law health care delivery systems and create new companies. "I enforcement agencies to upgrade the education oflaw en­ see the new college having the ability to make an impact on forcement personnel and closer relationships with the area's economic development in the region," states Webb. public schools. The college will also help find commer­ More specifically, Webb says, the College of cial applications for technology through CNU-based Business, Science and Technology will establish SEVAnet (The Southeastern Virginia Regional Freenet) and partnerships with the region's medical schools, hospitals the Center for Innovative Technology. and medical centers; create advanced technology develop­ Another major priority for the college will be main­ ment, manufacturing and environmental quality centers; and taining the liberal arts tradition and an emphasis on writ­ establish new graduate programs in business and ing. One of the proposals being considered by the college mathematics. would require every student to take a writing-intensive Webb's short range plans for the new college include course beyond the freshmen year. expanding computer laboratories, adding computers and multimedia workstations, and creating a special classroom Continued on page 6 President Paul S. Trible, Jr. CHRISTOPHER NEWPORT V~ee President for Premier Issue Newport News, Virg1ma University Relations Summer 1996 John Miller Chief Advancement Officer J. Phillip Horne Table of Contents Editor Katherine S. Edwards 2 CNU Students Making a Difference Writer in Richmond Michelle C. Carpenter Designer World Renowned Architects, I.M. Pei Stevalynn R. Adams 3 and Partners to Design Performing Contributing Writers Wayne D. Block Arts Center Director of Sports Information Catherine D. Heffington CNU Captains Make History Director of Alumni Relations 4 Lucy L. Latchum Student Intern 5 Omicron Delta Kappa Karen J. Levy Awards Charter to Christopher Immediate Past President of Alumni Society '91 Newport The Christopher Newport Magazine is CNU Captains published quarterly by the Office of Page 4 University Relations, Christopher Newport Nursing Program Receives University, Newport News, VA 23606-2998. Regional Grant (757) 594-7267 6 CNU' s Plant Operations Gets High Marks !l~." ....' "'~~ ~ 5t.. ~""'~ '1.-J"'ERS'-'.d Alumni Society News On the Cover: 7 Senator Paul S. Trible, Jr., President of CNU and Dr. Class of 1993 Gift Jim Rollings Jouett Powell, former Page8 Provost, upon conferring the Honorary Doctor of Laws Alumni Spotlight: Jim Rollings Degree, hood the Honorable 8 John W Warner. U.S. Sena­ tor John Warner delivered the Commencement Address on 8-10 Alumni Notes Saturday, May 11 . Christo­ pher Newport's Class of1996 included 635 graduates. Editor's Note: Christopher Newport Magazine, formerly CNU News, will be published three times a year by the Office of University Relations for alumni and friends of Christopher Newport Uni versity. We hope you welcome the new changes to the "alumni magazine" and continue to keep us informed of what is happening in your lives. Christopher Newport Alumni Magazine I <IIIII CNU Students Making a Difference in Richmond Lucy Latchum, English major and student intern in the Office of University Relations, wrote this article based on interviews with CNU student aides and interns and observations she made when she traveled to Richmond during the 1996 General Assembly session. Christopher Newport University's gambling lobby came to town. Both pro In fact, Will exudes such vitality, ease, and aides and interns, in Richmond for the 1996 and con battled it out. Critics charge that confidence that his image and the issues Virginia General Assembly, agree they do special interests get blurred. His insights are crisp like his make a difference in the lives of the poli­ ruin government; starched white shirt. ''I'm honored to be ticians they serve. Seniors Will Phillips, some would like to working for Senator Williams. I'm Lisa Quensenberry, Will Conners, and limit or prohibit honored to be afforded this opportunity. Becky Watson work day and night as liter­ lobbying. I used to Senator Williams' friendly, easygoing ally hundreds of bills go to the floor ofthe think that way. But, style belies all the hours of hard work he legislature. CNU Government and Public in these past puts in. He just makes it look easy," said Affairs Professor Dr. Buck Miller, weeks my opinion Will. stresses the value of "putting theory to has changed. Lob­ Will's loyalty to Williams and the work" through this program. bying is an essent­ political process seems absolute, On the eighth floor of Virginia's ial part of the process." especially when talking about how he got General Assembly Building, in Petite and poised Lisa Quensenberry to this point. "There's definitely nothing Delegate Alan Diamonstein's, (D) savors every hectic moment in Richmond. last minute about my interest in politics. Newport News, spacious suite of offices, She doesn't want to go from point A to I've always been interested. But, my Will Phillips extends a warm, firm hand­ point Z without examining what's in be­ eyes were opened about four years ago shake. "Come on in," he said. His tiny, tween. So, this CNU student decided to when I did an internship with the Newport modestly appointed office serves as a po­ take a sabbatical from the spring semes­ News Probation litical home away from home during this ter and focus full time on the Assembly. and Parole Office. eight-week General Assembly session. Lisa's political starting point began three For the first time I "I'm here in Richmond on Tuesdays and years ago with Delegate Robert F. saw real poverty. I Thursdays. My Mondays, Wednesdays, McDonnell, (R) Virginia Beach. She sees saw children hun­ and Fridays are in Newport News, at her time with McDonnell as the best win­ gry and alone. It Delegate Diamonstein 's office, in the dow into the world of honest hard work was a helpless feel­ Mariner Building, right across from CNU. and devotion to the public good. ing." Will sits on I'm Delegate Diamonstein 's liaison to the "My admiration for Delegate the edge of his 94th district while he's up here." McDonnell comes from a working knowl­ chair and shakes his Will begins edge of the issues that are important to head. His vigilance is fed not by pure poli­ tentatively, then him. His diligent, thoughtful commitment tics but by a recognition that powerful warms to telling his to juvenile justice and victims rights have problems need powerful people to solve story. "I can't re­ earned him high praise.